News @ TWN

Promised Land now available on DVD
An inside look at the critical story of land reform and racial reconciliation in the new South Africa. The film follows two black communities as they struggle to reclaim land from white owners, some of whom who have lived there for generations. Amid rising tensions and wavering government policies, the land issue remains South Africa's "ticking time bomb," with far-reaching consequences for all sides.
View in catalogue

TWN's Spring 2010 Wednesday Night Workshops!

Screenings

BAMcinématek celebrates Independence Day with Contraband Cinema, a comprehensive nine day series of 33 defiantly political films. BAMcinématek posits the question, "What is political cinema?" by offering an expansive look at films that have challenged, confronted, revolutionized, and entertained audiences. On July 7th the following TWN films will be screened:
The Women's Film
Up Against the Wall Mrs. America
Jeanette Rankin Brigade

Wednesday, July 7th at 6:30 PM
Brooklyn Academy of Music
30 Lafayette Avenue
Brooklyn, NY 11217
Admission: $12
More info

TWN at the NY Asian American International Film Festival
Last year, TWN held the first Asian Girls Empowerment through Media workshop. Twelve young women learned media literacy, production and produced 4 videos. One will screen at this years NYAAIFF!

I'm Not Even That
by Michelle Kwong, Claudia von Nostitz, Aasthra Vohra and Wendy Yuan Zhang
July 16th at 4 PM and July 17th at 2 pm
Museum of Chinese in the Americas
215 Centre Street
More info

Deadlines Coming Up

POV Call for Entries Deadline: June 30th
Attention, all filmmakers! POV, public television's premier showcase for independent, nonfiction film seeks programs from all perspectives to showcase in its annual national PBS series. All subjects, styles and lengths are welcome.
More info

Sundance Documentary Fund Deadline: July 7th
The Sundance Documentary Fund is a key program of the Documentary Film Program, dedicated to supporting U.S. and international documentary films that focus on current human rights issues, freedom of expression, social justice, civil liberties, and exploring critical issues of our time.
More info

The Reach Film Fellowship Deadline July 12th
A specialized program for emerging filmmakers who are making artful, socially relevant short films. Four filmmakers per year are selected to receive a $5,000 grant, production support, and seven months of mentorship, career advising and industry exposure as they progress through the entire production and post-production process and prepare for submissions to festivals and distributors.
More info.

NAPT 2010 Open Call for Filmmakers Deadline July 14th
Native American Public Telecommunications announces its annual open call for proposals from filmmakers. Proposals are requested for programs in many genres including documentary, performance, cultural/public affairs and animation. Projects submitted to this solicitation must be intended for national public television broadcast.
More info.

NEH Funding Initiative Deadline July 28th
Bridging Cultures films will spark Americans’ engagement with the wider world through the exploration of countries and cultures outside of the United States, and/or across nations. Projects must be analytical and deeply grounded in humanities scholarship. Applicants should demonstrate international collaboration by enlisting U.S.-based and non-U.S.-based scholars and/or by working with an international media team.
More info.

Media Fund Rolling Call Deadline July 30th
Members of the Pacific Islanders in Communications filmmaking community are encouraged to submit proposals for public television projects at the research and development (R&D), production, and completion stages. R&D projects may be awarded up to $15,000, and production and completion projects may be awarded up to $50,000.
More info.

Boost Voting Among Asian Americans Deadline August 31st
The San Diego Asian Film Foundation (SDAFF) is launching a national video contest to help increase voter participation among Asian Pacific Islander Americans (APIAs) and independent voters this election year. The contest is called Reel in the Vote campaign, challenging anyone with a video camera and a great idea to help make a difference in 30-seconds.
More info.

INTERNSHIPS

Award winning filmmaker Thomas Allen Harris (12 Disciples of Nelson Mandela, E Minha Cara/That's My Face) is in production on an innovative interactive project, DIGITAL DIASPORA FAMILY REUNION.  He is seeking interns to work in research, editing and multimedia. Please email: throughalensdarkly@gmail.com.

TWN Congratulates

Byron Hurt
Former TWN Production Workshop student, for his new show on NYC TV Life Reel Works with Byron Hurt.

TWN Recommends

H2A Partners With Third World Newsreel To Create Indie Distribution Label

The Hip-Hop Association (H2A) has officially partnered with Third World Newsreel (TWN) to form, H2ONewsreel, The Best in Hip-Hop Media, Education, and Culture. Visit h2onewsreel.com.

TWN will continue to acquire, distribute and market independent media under the TWN brand. This includes more than 350 social issue titles, including historical Newsreels from the sixties. H2O NEWSREEL will operate as a separate initiative targeting the Hip-Hop culture and demographic.

The mission of the H2ONEWSREEL is to build an alternative media outlet that provides a cultural and educational balance, economic sustainability, and industry longevity by creating distribution opportunities to independent and established Hip-Hop artists, educators, and filmmakers that display and define the variety of images and stories that depict Hip-Hop culture. The H2A and TWN demographic reach combined is over 30,000 international educators, administrators, librarians, students, curators, organizers, writers, conference and festival programmers, social and health service providers, television programmers, and media artists.

TWN is an alternative media arts organization that fosters the creation, appreciation and dissemination of independent film and video by and about diverse communities, with a focus on people of color and social justice issues. It supports the innovative work of diverse forms and genres made by artists who are intimately connected to their subjects through common bonds of ethnic/cultural heritage, class position, gender, sexual orientation and political identification. TWN promotes the self-representation of traditionally marginalized groups as well as the negotiated representation of those groups by artists who work in solidarity with them.n annual event, to year-round exhibitions at different venues throughout the US and internationally. Through online partnerships, we will promote upcoming screenings, trailers and shorts. Filmmakers will also have a space to create their own profile page. Filmmakers whose projects are aligned with the H2O NEWSREEL mission will be selected to work closely with staff members on their marketing campaigns, programming and distribution goals, so that the H2A can offer more cultivation and resources. The Odyssey awards honoring our best filmmakers will resume in June 2009.

H2O NEWSREEL is poised to be the leading Hip-Hop multi-media independent developer and distribution outlet. It will acquire media projects and facilitate the creation of curriculums and stH2O NEWSREEL is poised to be the leading Hip-Hop multi-media independent developer and distribution outlet. It will acquire media projects and facilitate the creation of curriculums and study guides for the education and urban entertainment markets. H2ONEWSREEL will offer the most competitive percentage agreement to independent filmmakers and will split profits on a non-exclusive agreement.

Formed in September 2008, H2ONEWSREEL is now releasing its titles to the international educational sector. H2ONEWSREEL is featuring ten documentaries including: Masizakhe: Building Each Other (US/S. Africa), Frekuensia Kolombiana (Colombia), and an award winning short series collection.

In Memoriam - Jim Thigpen

James Allen Thigpen, Jr., passed unexpectedly Wednesday, January 13, 2010 in Columbus, Ohio. Fondly known as Jim, he was born May 28, 1950 in Columbus. He is preceded in death by father , James A. Thigpen, Sr. He is survived by mother, Louise of Columbus; sister Dorothy of Brooklyn, NY; brothers Steve (Veda) of Columbus, Barry (Riccarda) of Franklin, TN, Robert (Molly) of New Albany, OH, and life companion of 38 years, Larry J. Willis of Columbus, along with a host of cousins, nieces and nephews. Jim graduated from East High School and with honors from Ohio State University, with a degree in Psychology. He resided and worked in a number of professional capacities in Columbus and New York City, and owned a computer software development business. But Jim’s longest efforts were on behalf of people with developmental disabilities and their families. Throughout New York State, he was widely recognized as an effective advocate for the principles of equal protection, justice and fairness for all. He had a great passion for the arts, the internet, Web and software development. He developed e-commerce websites and database applications for non-profit art and government entities. Colleagues and friends describe Jim as always kind, empathetic, sincere, respectful, and loyal toward every person. His kindness and compassion will live in our hearts forever.
The crew at Third World Newsreel is devastated by this loss.  Jim was our beloved friend, co-worker, webmaster - in fact he designed our upgraded website  - and he was our consummate "shademeister".
Memorial services were held on February 13 , at St. Phillips Lutheran Church, in Columbus, Ohio, where Jim was baptized and confirmed. A New York City memorial was also held on March 20th.

Teshome H. Gabriel

Teshome H. Gabriel, a UCLA professor and internationally recognized scholar of Third World cinema, has died. He was the author of "Third Cinema in the Third World: The Aesthetics of Liberation" and "Otherness and the Media".

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